The Dutch government has acknowledged excluding the multi-billion Euro sales of the semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML from its publicly disclosed sensitive commodity export data. The government stated that this decision was made due to the involvement of commercial secrets.
According to data released by ASML, the company’s sales to China in 2024 exceeded $7 billion, but specific details regarding the types of machinery sold were not provided by region.
Reported by Reuters, the Dutch government’s decision to exclude most of ASML’s sales data to China from its public disclosure was confirmed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a policy dating back to September 2023.
Just this Wednesday, the Dutch government announced plans to expand export controls on advanced semiconductor equipment starting from April 1.
Lithography technology is at the core of chip manufacturing, with ASML being a focal point in the US-China chip war. It is the only global manufacturer of advanced lithography machines, crucial for producing high-end chips.
The type of lithography machines ASML customers purchase determines the technological level at which they produce chips.
Due to US-led export restrictions, the company has been unable to sell its advanced Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to China.
ASML’s CEO Christophe Fouquet has repeatedly stated that due to the US ban on exporting EUV machines to China, the Chinese chip manufacturing technology lags behind industry giants like Intel, TSMC, and Samsung by 10 to 15 years.
Under pressure from the Biden administration last year, the Dutch government restricted the sale of Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines to China. DUV is the most advanced chip manufacturing equipment after EUV.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Reuters that while the government must disclose permit granting for sensitive goods recognized by the EU, such as EUV equipment, this requirement does not apply to DUV equipment. The ministry stated that disclosing information of this nature could easily be traced back to specific companies, potentially exposing commercially sensitive business data.
Critics have slammed the Dutch government’s decision as experts, research institutions, or relevant individuals (including Dutch parliament members) typically rely on routine data disclosures to understand the situation regarding the export of military applications from the Netherlands.
However, with incomplete data being made publicly available, they are unable to obtain a comprehensive picture, potentially affecting the evaluation of the country’s export policies or military-related risks.
Quoting Frank Slijper, a researcher at PAX, a peace organization closely monitoring arms exports, Reuters reported, “Increasing secrecy benefits no one.”
According to Reuters’ analysis, if ASML’s sales of “dual-use” goods are included, China could potentially be the largest export destination for such goods from the Netherlands.